Texas Coral Snake

Image: wikipedia.org (public domain)

Description: The colorful and venomous Texas Coral Snake is red with black bands outlined in yellow. This snake can grow to about three and a half feet in length, but averages closer to two feet in length. Females are usually slightly larger than males. The Coral Snake is proteroglyphous, which means it has hollow fangs through which venom travels. To inject a significant amount of venom, the snake must hold on and chew at the victim’s flesh. As a result, few humans are seriously injured by coral snakes. Nevertheless, the Texas Coral Snake can deliver painful bites that should be considered medical emergencies. People in the South learn to stay away from the Texas Coral Snake and similarly colored snakes with the rhyme “Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, venom lack.”

Diet: The Texas Coral Snake preys upon lizards and other small snakes.

Range/Habitat: The Texas Coral Snake is found in parts of eastern Texas, southern Arkansas and western Louisiana. It also ranges into northern Mexico. This diurnal snake is shy and often hides on the forest floor, under logs, or in underground burrows. It prefers heavily wooded habitats.